ROSS POISED TO SET BPCA ALIGHT
BATSMEN in BPCA A2 next summer will be on their toes as speedster Brandon Ross helps fill a missing piece at an ambitious Armstrong Creek.
The former Highton quick, who last week won the GCA2’s Barry McMahon Medal as the competition’s best player, has joined the club as he steps back from turf cricket.
Still feared as one of the quickest bowlers in local cricket, Ross steps into a Titans side in need of a spearhead.
Making its A-grade debut in the BPCA’s A2 competition this summer, Armstrong Creek scored more runs than any other side, but also conceded the most runs on its way to a sixth-place finish. Ross — who took 30 wickets at 13.8 in GCA2 this season while also adding handy runs with the bat — said he saw a bright future at his new club.
“For a relatively new side they have been really competitive,” Ross said.
“In A-grade they probably made enough runs to win a lot of games, but just couldn’t bowl a few sides out, so obviously me being a bowler, hopefully that adds a bit of strength.
“They have definitely done well in winning three C-grade flags since they started.
“You have to learn how to win and that’s a pretty good start for the club.”
Ross is the biggest signing in the club’s short history as Armstrong Creek aims at a breakthrough finals tilt.
Coach Nic Johnson said that the addition of Ross was part of a long-term strategy to build a club that began only three seasons ago.
Ross lives in Armstrong Creek and with a young family, fits the club’s target.
“We heard he moved into the area and he has a young family, which is our demographic. We started putting feelers out and he was interested,” Johnson said.
“When we recruit we are looking for blokes who live in the area because we want blokes who want to hang around and be part of something.
“We want the club to be here long term, so if you have blokes who live in the area it brings others and their families.”
Having joined Highton seven years ago after coming to the region from Hamilton and fighting back from a serious vehicle accident in 2016 that resulted in a broken ankle and shoulder, Ross said the time was right to take a step back from turf.
“The last couple of years captain-coaching at Highton took a fair bit out of me to be honest and I just felt like I needed a change,” he said.
“So I decided to take a little bit of a step back to somewhere where I can miss a game or two here and there if I need to.
“I think it’s a bit harder being a captain and a fast bowler as well, especially trying to be captain while you are bowling took it out of me mentally.
“It’s not goodbye (from Highton). A few years down the track I could find myself back there, who knows.”